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Workers straightening curves on Howard Gap

Published: Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 7:31 p.m.

Contractors are widening and realigning several curves on one of Henderson County's most dangerous rural two-lane roads, hoping to reduce the number of wrecks while improving the road for motorists and cyclists.

Howard Gap Road has recorded the second-highest number of wrecks among rural two-lane roads in the county over the last five years.

Workers are currently tackling a stretch from Jackson Road in Fletcher to just south of Brookside Camp Road. Over the last five years, 95 wrecks have occurred on the 3.7-mile stretch, which is punctuated by at least 21 curves, said Brian Murphy, safety planning engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.

None of the wrecks were fatal, but 31 involved injuries and 64 led to property damage, he added.

The second phase of the project extends the widening and realigning down to Highway 64, a 3.2-mile stretch of Howard Gap Road with at least 17 curves. Those lanes hosted 141 crashes in the past five years, Murphy said, adding that one ended in a fatality, 58 in injuries and 82 in property damage.

On a list of total crashes grouped by routes in the county over the same time period, Howard Gap Road was ranked eight out of 10. Among two-lane rural roads, it was second only to Upward Road for the most wrecks, Murphy said.

The number of wrecks on Howard Gap still pales in comparison, however, to the numbers for more heavily traveled routes including Interstate 26, U.S. Highway 64, U.S. Highway 176 and N.C. Highway 191.

The two-lane roadway through the heart of apple country was once a main thoroughfare for Indians and settlers crossing the Blue Ridge. Today, it serves as a major alternate route for travelers hoping to steer away from traffic on Interstate 26. And soon, it will provide a safe passageway for bicyclists who will have a lane of their own.

Plans call for widening the northern section of Howard Gap Road to two 12-foot lanes with paved shoulders, constructing a bike lane, adding turn lanes at several intersections, replacing the bridge over Byers Creek and constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Brookside Camp Road and Howard Gap Road.

The $9.3 million contract to widen and align the first phase of Howard Gap Road was awarded to Tennoca Construction Company of Candler.

DOT officials hope the project will improve safety by dulling some of the sharpest curves. But crews will not be able to eliminate all of the road's twists and turns, said N.C. Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Aaron Powell.

Vehicular and bicycle traffic were both momentarily paused on Howard Gap Road Friday as crews worked to fill in a "deep hole" and straighten out a "big curve" near Hutch Mountain Road.

"That's where we're taking out a lot of the curves," Powell said.

He doesn't anticipate that mudslides or sink holes will hamper the project as crews work to shift the lanes through the pass to a higher elevation.

The first phase of the project from Jackson Road to Brookside Camp Road is expected to be completed by the end of June 2015. The second phase, which stretches the realignment out to Highway 64 and is budgeted for construction at $7.1 million, is estimated to end in November 2015.

Howard Gap Road property owner Edward Nuckolls thinks the project is moving "as slow as a seven-year-itch" and hopes to see it completed soon.

The state purchased a portion of his eight acres of land at the intersection of Howard Gap and Brookside Camp roads to accommodate the new traffic roundabout. Upon completion, stops signs will give way to yield signs at the busy intersection. Drivers will pause for traffic in the circle and travel counterclockwise around a central median until they exit at their street.

<p>Contractors are widening and realigning several curves on one of Henderson County's most dangerous rural two-lane roads, hoping to reduce the number of wrecks while improving the road for motorists and cyclists.</p><p>Howard Gap Road has recorded the second-highest number of wrecks among rural two-lane roads in the county over the last five years.</p><p>Workers are currently tackling a stretch from Jackson Road in Fletcher to just south of Brookside Camp Road. Over the last five years, 95 wrecks have occurred on the 3.7-mile stretch, which is punctuated by at least 21 curves, said Brian Murphy, safety planning engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.</p><p>None of the wrecks were fatal, but 31 involved injuries and 64 led to property damage, he added.</p><p>The second phase of the project extends the widening and realigning down to Highway 64, a 3.2-mile stretch of Howard Gap Road with at least 17 curves. Those lanes hosted 141 crashes in the past five years, Murphy said, adding that one ended in a fatality, 58 in injuries and 82 in property damage.</p><p>On a list of total crashes grouped by routes in the county over the same time period, Howard Gap Road was ranked eight out of 10. Among two-lane rural roads, it was second only to Upward Road for the most wrecks, Murphy said.</p><p>The number of wrecks on Howard Gap still pales in comparison, however, to the numbers for more heavily traveled routes including Interstate 26, U.S. Highway 64, U.S. Highway 176 and N.C. Highway 191.</p><p>The two-lane roadway through the heart of apple country was once a main thoroughfare for Indians and settlers crossing the Blue Ridge. Today, it serves as a major alternate route for travelers hoping to steer away from traffic on Interstate 26. And soon, it will provide a safe passageway for bicyclists who will have a lane of their own.</p><p>Plans call for widening the northern section of Howard Gap Road to two 12-foot lanes with paved shoulders, constructing a bike lane, adding turn lanes at several intersections, replacing the bridge over Byers Creek and constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Brookside Camp Road and Howard Gap Road.</p><p>The $9.3 million contract to widen and align the first phase of Howard Gap Road was awarded to Tennoca Construction Company of Candler.</p><p>DOT officials hope the project will improve safety by dulling some of the sharpest curves. But crews will not be able to eliminate all of the road's twists and turns, said N.C. Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Aaron Powell.</p><p>Vehicular and bicycle traffic were both momentarily paused on Howard Gap Road Friday as crews worked to fill in a "deep hole" and straighten out a "big curve" near Hutch Mountain Road.</p><p>"That's where we're taking out a lot of the curves," Powell said.</p><p>He doesn't anticipate that mudslides or sink holes will hamper the project as crews work to shift the lanes through the pass to a higher elevation.</p><p>The first phase of the project from Jackson Road to Brookside Camp Road is expected to be completed by the end of June 2015. The second phase, which stretches the realignment out to Highway 64 and is budgeted for construction at $7.1 million, is estimated to end in November 2015.</p><p>Howard Gap Road property owner Edward Nuckolls thinks the project is moving "as slow as a seven-year-itch" and hopes to see it completed soon.</p><p>The state purchased a portion of his eight acres of land at the intersection of Howard Gap and Brookside Camp roads to accommodate the new traffic roundabout. Upon completion, stops signs will give way to yield signs at the busy intersection. Drivers will pause for traffic in the circle and travel counterclockwise around a central median until they exit at their street.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>